Bhagalpur University proctor detained for Maoist links, released

Bhagalpur: The Proctor and a Professor of Tilka Manjhi Bihar University (TMBU) were detained yesterday for allegedly having connections with the Maoists, police said. However, they were later released.

Professor Vilakhjhan Ravidas, proctor of Tilka Manjhi Bhagalpur university in Bhagalpur and Kapildeo Mandal and Arjun Paswan were released after they filed a bond in a police station. "Ravidas and others were released due to lack of evidence against them," said a district police official.

Ravidas, however denied any links with Maoists. Police said that Ravidas was arrested on information provided by suspected Maoist Ghanshayam alias Ghoghan Da. A pistol, mobile phone and Maoist literature were allegedly seized from Ghanshayam who gave information about the proctor during his two-hour questioning. Police then raided several places and arrested Ravidas.

"We detained Ravidas from his private residence for links with Maoists and for providing patronage to them," Bhagalpur Superintendent of Police Vivek Kumar had said earlier.